United News – Special Edition 2020 ALICE Report

• More families continue to struggle to make ends meet.
• People of color are disproportionately affected by both the economic consequences of the Great Recession and COVID-19. Black and Hispanic households have a disproportionately high percentage of families below the ALICE Threshold.
• The Household Survival Budget in Connecticut continues to increase.
• Access to affordable childcare is a big issue for ALICE.
• Inequality in income and wealth will continue to rise as wage growth and job stability in high-wage jobs greatly outpace growth and stability in low wage jobs.

We invite you to read the full ALICE Report.

ALICE families are one emergency away from a financial crisis impacting their ability to feed their family, maintain their housing, pay for utilities and afford medical care. ALICE works in essential, frontline jobs that are critical to our economy: the coronavirus pandemic has clearly demonstrated both how much we need ALICE workers and their financial fragility.

While the unprecedented human and economic loss brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbates the challenges facing ALICE, we know there is more we can do together to build a better normal with more equitable outcomes for all.

Because of your generosity and support, our United Way has been focused on helping ALICE families obtain quality jobs with opportunities for career advancement while also connecting people to financial education resources, matched savings opportunities and income supports.

Your contributions have also provided resources for quality, affordable childcare helping to offset what is the largest cost for a family with preschoolers. And, you help ensure that ALICE has access to healthcare and information and referral services through United Way 211.

At the onset of the pandemic, we mobilized quickly to raise resources to meet the basic needs of local children, adults and families served by area nonprofits. We also partnered with Connecticut United Ways on a COVID-19 Response Fund that’s provided direct financial assistance to individuals, enabling those who were laid off or furloughed to buy food and household essentials.

We remain committed to supporting ALICE and we hope that you will join us in building a better normal for everyone.

Get involved in helping ALICE households achieve financial security. [GIVE TODAY]

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